Closer Cooperation between Jibril and Hizbullah
Background by Guy Bechor - "Ha'aretz", 21 Dec 1994, p. 2.
The military cooperation between Shi'ite Hizbullah activists and the
Palestinians Ahmed Jibril's Popular Front for the Liberation of
Palestine-General Command is not coincidental. The combined attack on
the IDF outpost at Talousa, in the security zone, was not the first joint
action in the recent past. Today, the PFLP-GC acts more in response to
orders from Teheran than those from Damascus.
"We fight together with our Hizbullah brothers," Ahmed Jibril said last
month, in a long interview to the Arabic weekly Al-Wasat, published in
London. "For example, 24 hours ago, we were in a single action in the
south (Lebanon) against the common enemy (Israel). These links are open to
all fighters, we have repeatedly told the Palestinians and the Lebanese
who are rising up in the south to coordinate positions with us, for the
benefit of both sides."
According to him, "We do not deny that we have made a pact with Hamas,
Hizbullah, and Islamic Jihad, or that there is full coordination between
us and these elements. I will give an example: several days ago, we
carried out a joint operation against the Israeli enemy in which one of
our brothers from Hizbullah participated in which a Merkava tank was
completely blown up, its pieces scattering in all directions."
Today, most of the financing and support for the PFLP-GC arrives from
Teheran, not Damascus; similarly, the organization's senior officials hold
most of their coordination and cooperation talks with the Iranians. The
Syrians could shut down Jibril's operations, but at the moment they are
not interested in doing so.
Damascus permits Jibril to operate a radio station "Radio El-Quds"
from its territory, which broadcasts propaganda condemning the Palestinian
Authority. In response to a question regarding the scope of the aid Iran
provides to his organization, Jibril said in the interview that, "the
media says that it provides us, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad with millions. I
say that is an exaggeration. Iran does not give us material support, but
provides [certain] limited and valuable items."
"I will also reveal that the aid has been stopped for several months due
to the economic crisis (in Iran). Our relationship with Iran is not based
on money. The foundation of this relationship is the political position."
Jibril has been a frequent visitor to Teheran recently. He has held
political and military coordination meetings with senior Hizbullah
officials in Lebanon.
For example, such a meeting was held in August, in which the Hizbullah
leadership led by Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah participated,
along with the entire senior leadership of the PFLP-GC: Jibril's
right-hand man, Talal Naji; the secretary of the PFLP-GC's political
bureau, Fadal Shroru; and Bureau member Omar Shahabi.
There are several main reasons for Jibril's deepening cooperation with
Hizbullah and Iran. First and foremost is the fear that the negotiations
with Israel will advance to the point where Syria will expel Jibril from
its territory, like it expelled Abu Nidal and Carlos two years ago. Even
today, Jibril and Islamic Jihad led by Fathi Shaqaqi are preparing
for the possibility of making a quick exit from Damascus, and relocating
to Teheran.
A second reason for the cooperation has to do with the fact that Hizbullah
provides protection for the PFLP-GC in Lebanon against a possible attack
by the Lebanese government, which is becoming stronger with Syria's
support. Hizbullah has a strong patron; Iran, which protects it in
Lebanon. Jibril is interested in this patron's support. The third reason
is that Jibril understands that today, Iran is the main funder of
anti-Israel terrorist activities, and he needs financing in order to
maintain the PFLP-GC's organizational apparatus.
Thus the rapprochement between the formerly leftist Palestinian leader and
Iran is such that he has even begun to adopt the terminology of Iranian
propaganda. Today, he calls the Americans "the arrogant ones" just like
Teheran Radio does.